OAAAS -The Technology Program of the OAA

Our mission is to promote the position of the technologist in architecture and in the public, to increase the knowledge, skill and proficiency of our members, and to ensure the public interest is served and protected.

Background

The OAAAS establishes the education, experience and examination requirements for three categories of building designers: Associate OAAAS, Technologist OAAAS and Licensed Technologist OAA. The OAA Council has established the scope of practice and the terms of the limited licence. A Licensed Technologist OAA has a greater scope to provide architectural services to clients, whether working in a large or small architectural practice, or providing services directly to the public. The OAA regulatory authority ensures that the public interest is protected when a Lic.Tech.OAA provides architectural services directly to the public, such as designing:

4-storey homes

low-rise apartment buildings

restaurants up to a 100 seat capacity

Review the Policy Statement of the OAA Council to understand the rights and

responsibilities of the Licensed Technologist OAA.

Information about how the OAAAS operates is found under the OAAAS Board of Directors.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2017 OAAAS Awards and Thank you to our sponsors!

Recording Work Experience

Becoming a Licensed Technologist OAA requires candidates to maintain a record of architectural experience while enrolled in the program. A candidate must acquire 5580 hours to satisfy the program’s architectural experience requirements.

All experience must be recorded in the Experience Record Book (ERB). The experience will be reviewed and evaluated by OAAAS at the end of each 900-1000 hours of architectural experience or at a change of employment. Each candidate will be provided with a record of the OAAAS review at the end of each. Each record book must be signed and initialed by the supervising architect or Licensed Technologist OAA and sent to OAAAS.

Retroactive Submission of Work Experience

A candidate may submit retroactive work experience hours subject to the following conditions:

The maximum number of work experience hours that may be submitted retroactively is 1940 hours

The submission must be filed with OAAAS within three months of the date of joining.

The submission must be on the Experience Record Book and signed by the Supervising Professional, and must have been worked within the seven years immediately prior to the date of joining.

The appropriate late submission fee shall be paid according to Art. 4.13.

Experienced Gained Outside Ontario

A candidate may receive credit for experience gained outside Ontario and within Canada or the United States, while enrolled in the program, provided it is certified by an architect licensed in the jurisdiction.

A candidate may apply for credit for experience gained outside Canada or the United States while NOT enrolled in the program, subject to an interview:

i) As a principal engaged in the practice of architecture. Such experience must be certified by her|himself;ii) As an employee of an architectural firm. Such experience must be certified by an architect who is a principal/shareholder or employee of the architectural firm and in a directly responsible supervisory role.Where registration/licensing of architects is not a requirement this may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by OAAAS. The candidate may be required to provide official documentation confirming the status of the Supervising Architect.

Continuing Education Cycle 2016 - 2018

IMPORTANT NEW UPDATE: Technologist OAAAS members who joined prior to July 1, 2017 have the responsibility of completing the Con Ed Cycle 2016 - 2018 in addition to any previous Cycle in which they hold the Technologist OAAAS designation. Members who join after July 1, 2017 do not have Continuing Education responsibility.

July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018

Members who hold the designation Technologist OAAAS or Licensed Technologist OAA must commit to lifelong learning through the OAA ConEd Program. Each member must meet continuing education requirements established by the OAA Continuing Education Program.

The Program operates on a 2-year Cycle, commencing on July 1 of even numbered years.

Learning Hours Required

OAA ConEd requirements by membership type:

Technologist OAAAS

15 hours of learning (minimum of 5 hours of Structured Learning) per two year cycle

Licensed Technologist OAA

35 hours of learning (minimum of 12 hours of Structured Learning) per two year cycle

Learning hours must be gained in both Structured and Unstructured Learning activities.

Structured Learning activities are organized educational sessions of a minimum one hour in length. They must be supported by documented evidence of participation at the time that the Continuing Education hours are logged. Acceptable forms of proof include a certificate, a diploma, a letter of attendance from the provider, etc.

Unstructured Learning covers all learning activities that an architectural professional may undertake outside the office or classroom. Time spent volunteering, including on OAAAS Boards and Committees, qualifies. Unlike Structured Learning, official proof of completion is not required when reporting Unstructured Learning Hours.

A personal Continuing Education transcript is created for each Technologist OAAAS member, which is accessible on the OAAAS/OAA Website. Each individual member is responsible for uploading all learning hours, both Structured and Unstructured to their individual web transcript. If you obtain Technologist designation at any point during the last six (6) months of a Continuing Education cycle, you will not be subject to Continuing Education Program requirements until the start of the next two-year cycle.

Carry Forward Policy

Individuals certified as a Licensed Technologist OAA may carry forward a maximum of seven Unstructured Learning hours and four hours of Structured learning. The carry-forward policy does not apply to those designated as a Technologist OAAAS.

The following links provide further information on the Continuing Education Program: